2003 Vauxhall Astravan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,417 MOT tests, the 2003 Vauxhall Astravan recorded a 67.9% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 2003 Astravan comes out 2.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.5%) and suspension (18.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 199 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.1% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 35.0% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 49.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 276 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.8% | 266 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 238 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.1% | 115 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.4% | 105 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 103 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 199 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 194 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 132 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 104 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 97 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 79 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 49.8% | 706 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.5% | 559 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 436 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 306 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 264 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 212 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 112 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 252 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 389 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 594 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,266 | 32.2% |
| Petrol | 143 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 463 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 348 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 248 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 207 | 35.3% |
| 2025 | 151 | 33.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Astravan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (16.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2003 Vauxhall Astravans pass their MOT?
67.9% of the 1,417 2003 Vauxhall Astravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Vauxhall Astravan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by suspension (18.8%).
Does the 2003 Astravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 60-90k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,417 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.